TOMATO ESSENCE
- 750g tomatoes, ripe, roughly chopped
- 1/4 onion, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cucumber, roughly chopped
- 1/2 stick celery, roughly chopped
- 1 small clove garlic, chopped
- 1/4 red pepper, roughly chopped
- 1/4 fennel, roughly chopped
- 1/4 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- a pinch cayenne pepper
GARNISH
- 50g goat’s cheese, rind removed
- 12 red cherry tomatoes
- 12 yellow cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- a pinch smoked paprika
- 25g pine nuts, toasted
- a small bunch basil, shredded
STEP 1Wrap the goat’s cheese tightly in clingfilm and freeze for at least 5 hours, but preferably overnight.
STEP 2For the tomato essence, add all of the ingredients to a bowl, mix well, cover and leave to marinate for 1 hour.
STEP 3Pour the mix into a food processor and pulse several times until it’s a rough pulp. Pour into a large mixing bowl lined with a double layer of clean muslin. Tie together the 4 corners of the muslin with string and suspend over the bowl – we do this using the taps above a sink or two overturned chairs and a broom handle. Leave to hang for at least 4 hours.
STEP 4Bring a pan of water to the boil and blanch the cherry tomatoes for 15-20 seconds before plunging straight into iced water. Peel and put into a bowl. Sprinkle with the salt, sugar and smoked paprika, and leave to marinate for 30 minutes.
STEP 5When ready to serve, warm the tomato essence in a pan. Divide the peeled tomatoes between bowls, sprinkle with pine nuts and basil, and grate over the frozen goat’s cheese so that it completely hides the tomatoes. Pour the warmed tomato essence at the table, if you like.